Ascent Trip Report

Bad day for this hike. Hot and calm in lower elevations with 8am start. During climb, it was evident that smoke from several forest fires north had covered the surrounding lower elevations in smoke. On top you could see above most of the smoke to most of the summits from Diamond Peak to Mount Jefferson (40-46 miles). I could barely make out the silhouette of Mount Thielsen (67 miles). The ultimate disappointment: no Tear Drop Pool yet. You can faintly see some areas of blue ice where melting and freezing had occurred, but there was absolutely no standing water. And then the choking dirt kicked up by other hikers on the dusty trail. I wish I had gone somewhere else and left this one for next year.